~chapter 4~
   The three turned around to find what had made the noise.  In front of them stood a fairly small creature. It stood about four feet tall, had blue scaly skin, webbed hands and feet, a round chubby face that looked similar to a humans except it had a bigger nose and no ears. This creature had a mustache that hung down to its chin. It also wore a silver helmet with a large fin on the top, a silver-blue chest plate, silver wrist plates, and a shimmering blue tunic. The creature held a long trident that ran the entire length of his body. Link drew out his sword cautiously.
   "Are you friend or foe?" he asked the creature. It responded by releasing a series of clicks and hums.Â
   "I don't think it speaks English." Jared mumbled. The creature outstretched its arm and waved back, walking away from them and toward a field.
   "Maybe he wants us to follow him..." Justin suggested. The three went after the creature as it waddled through the tall grass.
   "What if this is a trap?" Jared whispered to Link as they walked.
   "He looks friendly enough, besides, he hasn't made any hostile gestures toward us." Link replied.
   "That's what you said about Theo..." Jared mumbled quietly to himself. They continued on until the field opened up into a fairly large crystal lake.
   "Hey, where'd that little thing go?" Justin asked to no one in particular. The creature had disappeared from site. Suddenly it popped up from the water, motioning for them to follow.
   "Um...We can't breathe under water." Link called out to it, hoping it understood. The creature nodded and dove underwater. After about three minutes, the creature reemerged. It waddled out of the water and toward the three, outstretching its hand. Link took the objects from it. There were three necklaces; simple strings with a conch shell tied around each. Link looked at Jared and Justin, then at the necklace. It seemed to have a mystical attribute about it. He then lowered the necklace over his head. As he breathed in, he felt a cold air blast down his throat. He then handed Jared and Justin each a necklace. They put them on and soon felt the same experience Link had. As soon as the three had donned the necklaces, the creature waddled back into the water and motioned for them to follow. After exchanging glances once more, the three slowly made their way over to the water and dove it. Soon they found they had the ability to breathe underwater; most likely due to the necklaces they were wearing, Link concluded. They followed the creature
   down...
           down...
                       down...
           way down, far into the heart of the lake. When Link was getting to think that this Lake had no end, they reached the bottom. The creature floated next to a few clumps of sea grass. It then pulled the weeds aside, revealing a hidden cave. It swam through the opening followed by Link and the others. The tunnel curved up a bit and eventually the three found themselves in a small underground Lake. The creature jumped out of the water and motioned for them to follow. Link climbed onto shore and looked around the huge cavern.
   "Where are we?" Link asked. The creature simply waved again for them to follow as it led them down a small torch-lit tunnel. At the end, the tunnel opened up into a cavern at least 150 feet high. There were several buildings covering the cavern floor, as well as several inhabitants which were the same as the creature. They had been led to an underground city. The creature led Link and co. down the street. Other creatures would stop and stare as Link and the others walked along. Link couldn't help but feel out of place as he saw others stare and whisper to one another. They finally reached the end of the cavern. They were led up to large double doors guarded by 2 creatures just like the one that led them. After a short conversation between one of the guards and the three's guide, the guard banged his trident on the floor. The huge doors creaked and groaned as they swung open. Link and the others were led inside and down a red carpet which led up to one of these creatures sitting in a throne. Link assumed this was the king. The creature that led them spoke to the king, who replied, then the creature left. The king then looked at the group.
   "I am Wubluh, king of the hydroid people." The king spoke to Link in a deep warbled voice. "What reason do you have for traveling to Valea?" Link stepped up.
   "We have come in search of someone." Link told him.
   "Hmm...." the king seemed to study them for a moment, then noticed Links sword. "Bring me their weapons!" he shouted. Hydroid guards rushed the three, tridents raised. Link handed over his sword calmly. Justin also gave up his bow and sword complyingly. Jared, however, struggled a bit when the guards tried to take his weapons away, which seemed to anger them.
   "Jared, it's ok." Link told him. One of the guards placed the weapons on a table next to the throne. The king then let out a click and one of his servants rushed in..
   "Now, as for these three," the king told the servant as he looked at the group malevolently. "We will have them for dinner."
~end~
   The three turned around to find what had made the noise.  In front of them stood a fairly small creature. It stood about four feet tall, had blue scaly skin, webbed hands and feet, a round chubby face that looked similar to a humans except it had a bigger nose and no ears. This creature had a mustache that hung down to its chin. It also wore a silver helmet with a large fin on the top, a silver-blue chest plate, silver wrist plates, and a shimmering blue tunic. The creature held a long trident that ran the entire length of his body. Link drew out his sword cautiously.
   "Are you friend or foe?" he asked the creature. It responded by releasing a series of clicks and hums.Â
   "I don't think it speaks English." Jared mumbled. The creature outstretched its arm and waved back, walking away from them and toward a field.
   "Maybe he wants us to follow him..." Justin suggested. The three went after the creature as it waddled through the tall grass.
   "What if this is a trap?" Jared whispered to Link as they walked.
   "He looks friendly enough, besides, he hasn't made any hostile gestures toward us." Link replied.
   "That's what you said about Theo..." Jared mumbled quietly to himself. They continued on until the field opened up into a fairly large crystal lake.
   "Hey, where'd that little thing go?" Justin asked to no one in particular. The creature had disappeared from site. Suddenly it popped up from the water, motioning for them to follow.
   "Um...We can't breathe under water." Link called out to it, hoping it understood. The creature nodded and dove underwater. After about three minutes, the creature reemerged. It waddled out of the water and toward the three, outstretching its hand. Link took the objects from it. There were three necklaces; simple strings with a conch shell tied around each. Link looked at Jared and Justin, then at the necklace. It seemed to have a mystical attribute about it. He then lowered the necklace over his head. As he breathed in, he felt a cold air blast down his throat. He then handed Jared and Justin each a necklace. They put them on and soon felt the same experience Link had. As soon as the three had donned the necklaces, the creature waddled back into the water and motioned for them to follow. After exchanging glances once more, the three slowly made their way over to the water and dove it. Soon they found they had the ability to breathe underwater; most likely due to the necklaces they were wearing, Link concluded. They followed the creature
   down...
           down...
                       down...
           way down, far into the heart of the lake. When Link was getting to think that this Lake had no end, they reached the bottom. The creature floated next to a few clumps of sea grass. It then pulled the weeds aside, revealing a hidden cave. It swam through the opening followed by Link and the others. The tunnel curved up a bit and eventually the three found themselves in a small underground Lake. The creature jumped out of the water and motioned for them to follow. Link climbed onto shore and looked around the huge cavern.
   "Where are we?" Link asked. The creature simply waved again for them to follow as it led them down a small torch-lit tunnel. At the end, the tunnel opened up into a cavern at least 150 feet high. There were several buildings covering the cavern floor, as well as several inhabitants which were the same as the creature. They had been led to an underground city. The creature led Link and co. down the street. Other creatures would stop and stare as Link and the others walked along. Link couldn't help but feel out of place as he saw others stare and whisper to one another. They finally reached the end of the cavern. They were led up to large double doors guarded by 2 creatures just like the one that led them. After a short conversation between one of the guards and the three's guide, the guard banged his trident on the floor. The huge doors creaked and groaned as they swung open. Link and the others were led inside and down a red carpet which led up to one of these creatures sitting in a throne. Link assumed this was the king. The creature that led them spoke to the king, who replied, then the creature left. The king then looked at the group.
   "I am Wubluh, king of the hydroid people." The king spoke to Link in a deep warbled voice. "What reason do you have for traveling to Valea?" Link stepped up.
   "We have come in search of someone." Link told him.
   "Hmm...." the king seemed to study them for a moment, then noticed Links sword. "Bring me their weapons!" he shouted. Hydroid guards rushed the three, tridents raised. Link handed over his sword calmly. Justin also gave up his bow and sword complyingly. Jared, however, struggled a bit when the guards tried to take his weapons away, which seemed to anger them.
   "Jared, it's ok." Link told him. One of the guards placed the weapons on a table next to the throne. The king then let out a click and one of his servants rushed in..
   "Now, as for these three," the king told the servant as he looked at the group malevolently. "We will have them for dinner."
~end~